Status and prospects of artificial propagation and breeding technique of marine fish in Fujian

Since 1990's, artificial propagation and breeding technique of marine fish in Fujian have developed with increases in both species and fry number. Major cultural species are of valuable ones. Large quantities of artificial fry can meet the needs of both marine cage culture and pond culture. Experimental results obtained by scientists have been put into use in practice. Fish fry production is kept in a sustainable period of development. So far, at least 30 species( 14 families) of marine fish have been sucessfully bred in Fujian. The artificial fry number of yellow croaker ( Pseudosciaena crocea ) was over 300 million in 1999. The species whose artificial fry number has surpassed 10 million annually are red drum ( Sciaenops ocellatus ), seabass ( Lateolabrax japonicus ), grey croaker ( Nibea miichthioides ), spring spawning red seabream ( Pagrosomus major ) and tail spotted sweetlips ( Plectorhynchus cinctus ). Millions of artificial fry are bred annually in the species of black seabream ( Sparus macrocephalus ), Russell's snapper ( Lutjanus russelli ), silver spotted grunt ( Pomadasys hasta ), min croaker ( Miichthys miiuy ) and slant band grunt ( Hapalogenys nitens ), respectively. The species of the family Sciaenidae are the major fish in the artificial propagation and breeding . Some issues on aquaculture and enhancement of marine fish are also discussed and some proposals of sustainable development are put forward in this article.